A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Yamaguchi vs. Matsue for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Families

Should you visit Yamaguchi or Matsue?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Yamaguchi or Matsue, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi is a scenic, traditional, and serene town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the hiking, museums, and food.

Matsue

Matsue is a historic, quiet, and peaceful town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Yamaguchi and Matsue: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Yamaguchi or Matsue?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Matsue. Although Yamaguchi and Matsue are roughly the same size, Matsue has more sights and attractions for tourists. Matsue is more popular for its historical sights and shopping, while Yamaguchi is known for its hiking. Matsue is more touristy than Yamaguchi and is popular for its 17th century castle and its quaint atmosphere. It is also home to the Matsue Castle. Yamaguchi is popular for its temples, serene setting, and traditional ways.

How is Yamaguchi different from Matsue?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Matsue and Yamaguchi. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Yamaguchi or Matsue?

You'll find a number of high quality museums and attractions in both Matsue and Yamaguchi.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Yamaguchi can be an interesting and educational experience. There are many historic shrines and temples in the area, as well as the Kintai Bridge.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Matsue. Most people visit town specifically to see the Matsue Castle, which is one of the last original castles left in Japan. The city also has parks and gardens, as well as the Shimane Art Museum, Yaegaki Shrine, and Miho Shrine.

Is the Food Better in Yamaguchi or Matsue? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Yamaguchi and Matsue offer a number of high quality restaurants to choose from.

Yamaguchi has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city has a long-running farming and fishing industry, so you can be assured fresh ingredients at every meal. Dishes are still deeply rooted in the area's culinary traditions, and perhaps the most famous local delicacy is the Fugu fish, otherwise known as blowfish. It's become famous among westerners as the fish can be poisonous if not prepared correctly.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Matsue makes for a great culinary experience. There are peaceful restaurants and cafes around town where you can sample the local dishes. Many restaurants have beautiful gardens and set lunch menus, which is a great way to sample fine dining cuisine at a reasonable price.

Is Yamaguchi or Matsue Better for Nightlife?

The decent nightlife scene is relatively similar in Yamaguchi and Matsue.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Yamaguchi. There are some pubs and local bars, but most of the area is peaceful and tranquil, especially at night.

Matsue is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. It's a quiet town and there's not much of a nightlife scene, but if you spend the night you can probably find a quaint local bar where you can hang out.

Is Yamaguchi or Matsue Better for its Old Town?

Matsue is a nice place to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Yamaguchi does not have a historic old town.

Matsue has an old town worth visiting. The town has one of the last of the twelve original castles that are still in Japan. There are also many canals that cross the town.

Yamaguchi does not have a historic old town.

Is Yamaguchi or Matsue Better for Hiking?

Yamaguchi is a town with good options for its hiking experiences. However, Matsue is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Yamaguchi. There are hiking and walking trails throughout the prefecture so that you can energy the natural setting.

Matsue is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Yamaguchi or Matsue?

Matsue is a nice place to visit for its shopping areas. However, Yamaguchi is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Matsue has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Kyomise Shopping District is a charming street near Ohashi Bridge. It is lined with shops and restaurants and tourists will enjoy visiting the souvenir and specialty stores in the area.

Yamaguchi is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Yamaguchi or Matsue Better for Families?

Yamaguchi and Matsue are both good destinations for the whole family.

Yamaguchi is a family-friendly town. The city offers beautiful temples and a glimpse into Japanese culture that kids and adults alike will enjoy. There are also beautiful gardens and nearby natural scenery.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Matsue. Kids will enjoy the city's history as much as adults. There are several temples and shrines to explore as well as Lake Shinji. The best views of the lake are from the Shimane Art Museum.

Is Yamaguchi or Matsue Better for Couples?

Yamaguchi is a great destination for its romantic activities. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Yamaguchi frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. With its historic temples, natural beauty, and nice green space, this is a lovely city to explore as a couple.

Matsue is a good town for couples to visit. Castles, gardens, and museums all make this a beautiful and romantic destination. Couples will enjoy immersing themselves in the city's history. There's also a beautiful lake and the impressive Matsue Vogel Park.

Is Yamaguchi or Matsue Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Yamaguchi and Matsue are both good destinations for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Yamaguchi. There are a couple of hostels and budget-friendly accommodation options in the area.

Matsue is a good town to visit for backpackers. There are a couple of hostels and guesthouses as well as budget hotels around town for backpackers.

Is Yamaguchi or Matsue Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Matsue is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Yamaguchi is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

The public transit in Matsue can get you to most places easily. There are city buses as well as Ichibata Bus. Tourists will mostly use the Lakeline loop, which connects the two railway stations with all of the city's major attractions. Buses run every 20 minutes.

You'll find some public transit in Yamaguchi, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses through the city and prefecture.

Is Yamaguchi or Matsue a more walkable city?

Matsue is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. Also, Yamaguchi is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

Matsue is a very walkable destination. Most of the town's sights can be reached on foot. You can walk from the JR Matsue Station to the castle in half an hour and it's only 15 minutes from the Shinjiko Onsen Station.

Yamaguchi is somewhat walkable. There are a number of walking trails in the area.

For even more information, also check out Is Yamaguchi Worth Visiting? and Is Matsue Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Matsue or Yamaguchi?

How long in Yamaguchi or Matsue?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Yamaguchi and Matsue. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Matsue than in Yamaguchi. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Yamaguchi, and 2-3 days is enough time in Matsue.

Families should spend more time in Matsue than Yamaguchi. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Matsue, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Yamaguchi than Matsue. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Yamaguchi that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Matsue than Yamaguchi if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Matsue.

One day in Yamaguchi or Matsue?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Yamaguchi. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

You'll find shopping and museums around the town of Matsue. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Yamaguchi or Matsue?

Yamaguchi is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find museums and food around the serene destination of Matsue. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Yamaguchi or Matsue?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Yamaguchi. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the serene town of Matsue. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Yamaguchi or Matsue?

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the scenic destination of Yamaguchi. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Matsue is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yamaguchi and Matsue, we can see that Yamaguchi is more expensive. And not only is Matsue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Matsue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Matsue and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Yamaguchi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yamaguchi than you might in Matsue.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Yamaguchi Expensive? and Is Matsue Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Yamaguchi or Matsue?

Matsue has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Yamaguchi. When comparing the sizes of Yamaguchi and Matsue, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Yamaguchi or Matsue?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Yamaguchi or Matsue in the Summer?

Both Matsue and Yamaguchi during the summer are popular places to visit. The hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Yamaguchi this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Matsue for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Yamaguchi is generally around the same temperature as Matsue. Daily temperatures in Yamaguchi average around 26°C (79°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Matsue. Yamaguchi gets 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Yamaguchi or Matsue in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Yamaguchi and Matsue. Many travelers come to Yamaguchi for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to Matsue in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Yamaguchi is a little warmer than Matsue in the autumn. The daily temperature in Yamaguchi averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Matsue fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

Matsue receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Yamaguchi usually receives less rain than Matsue. Yamaguchi gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Yamaguchi or Matsue in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Yamaguchi as well as Matsue. Many visitors come to Yamaguchi in the winter for the museums and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Matsue for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Matsue can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Yamaguchi is a little warmer than Matsue. Typically, the winter temperatures in Yamaguchi in January average around 6°C (42°F), and Matsue averages at about 4°C (39°F).

It's quite rainy in Matsue. Yamaguchi usually gets less rain in January than Matsue. Yamaguchi gets 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Yamaguchi or Matsue in the Spring?

Both Matsue and Yamaguchi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Yamaguchi for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Matsue because of the natural beauty.

In April, Yamaguchi is generally around the same temperature as Matsue. Daily temperatures in Yamaguchi average around 14°C (57°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. It's quite rainy in Yamaguchi. In April, Yamaguchi usually receives more rain than Matsue. Yamaguchi gets 162 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Matsue and Yamaguchi